TITLE: Salvaged
AUTHOR: Stefne Miller
RATING: 2 STARS
PUBLISHED: May 2010 - Tate Publishing
SERIES: Yes:
- Salvaged (May 2010)
- Rise (March 2011)
"My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying... 'Mom?' My vision was murky, but I could see her face. It was bloody, and her eyes were large and full of fear. Her voice calmed. 'Get out of the car, Attie.' Her words sounded crisp and clear. I looked into the backseat in search of Melody and found her lying covered in blood in a twisted heap on the floor. I turned my attention back to my mother and out of the corner of my eye saw fire. 'Get out, Attie!' 'Mom?' Everything went dark.' Attie Reed should have died in the wreck that stole the lives of her mother and best friend. But her life was spared. Why? When Attie moves to Oklahoma to stay with the Bennetts for the summer, she hopes she has left her nightmares behind. But her battle is far from over, and Riley Bennett steps forward to help her fight the nighttime monsters. As the battle wears on, Riley begins fighting monsters of his own: his feelings for Attie. And Attie realizes she must begin to face the monsters of the night herself if she wants to conquer them for good. Can Attie's life be Salvaged?"
MY REVIEW:
I hate what I am about to do, but I have to be honest.
I was really looking forward to reading Salvaged by Stefne Miller. I purchased it for $14.99 on Amazon Kindle. That shows how interested I was because I normally don’t spend that much money per book. (Reading is an expensive hobby. When you read at least 1 book per day, $14.99 is on the expensive side.) However, I was really excited about this novel so I paid the money and got started reading.
I didn’t realize Salvaged was a Christian romance until I began reading this novel. Did this immediately turn me off or lower my expectations? No, not at all. In fact, I have recently read and enjoyed a couple LDS books: The Dating Deal by Melanie Marks and the Taken by Storm series by Angela Morrison. I am not Mormon, but I really enjoyed these LDS novels. The religious aspect didn’t alter my opinion at all. So if anything, I was even more curious after discovering Salvaged was a Christian romance.
Salvaged by Stefne Miller is a beautiful story with positive and enlightening messages. This book teaches young adults the importance of abstinence, faith, honestly, guilt, forgiveness, respecting elders, etc. I think these are great morals and values to learn, regardless of one’s religion or beliefs.
However, there were quite a few pages that were way too preachy (for lack of a better word) for me! At times, I felt like I was sitting in bible study. So while I loved the messages that were coming across, I thought the delivery was a little too excessive and in your face.
My biggest complaint is about the-jeans-and-t-shirt-wearing Jesus, who physically visits Attie. Throughout the novel, He talks to her and gives her advice. Unfortunately, His conversations with her were what made the book feel preachy. Every time Jesus walked onto the page, I felt like I was getting another lesson.
I hate to say this, but if you take out Jesus (the jeans and t-shirt wearing Jesus, not the message of Jesus, the son of God) then I would have enjoyed this novel a lot more. I feel so bad saying that. Take out Jesus. Agh! I feel evil just putting those words together. But in the spirit of honesty, I have to say it because that is why Miller lost my support.
I gave Salvaged by Stefne Miller 2 STARS. I thought it was all right, but I didn’t enjoy it enough to read the sequel, Rise.
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